When people we meet, find out about our lifestyle, the question we get the most is: "How do you do it?" Of course, there are many facets to that question...(physically, emotionally, mentally, mechanically, educationally, socially) and I'm rarely sure which part they're questioning. So this blog (and more) will be dedicated to the "How to...." of RV living.
(Please use the comment bar to post "How to..." questions.)
We've been doing this for almost two years now. So I wouldn't say we're experts but we know our way around RVs. RVing is like parenthood; in that, the learning curve is
huge. When your child is young, you quickly learn all the ins and outs, all the details necessary to handle daily requirements. Same goes for RVing. In no time, you become competent enough to know your own rig. Or as George Lopez would say, "I GOT thiiiiisss!" (Anyone who watched the show knows; he really doesn't "got this". But they always manage to "get it", in the end.) And it is much like that with RVing and parenting. You will have times when you feel overwhelmed but just keep trying until you get it right.
I'll start with mindset and purging.
Step 1 - Mindset
Before you can even consider purging, you must first be in the right mindset to live differently, "alternatively." The more you're excited and connected to the experience, the easier the process will feel. Alternately, if you're not 100% into it, each step may present challenges. The best way for me to explain this important concept, is to give this example. When we were moving from Florida to Colorado, many of our friends (and family) thought we were crazy for "giving it all up" (the job, the income, the future, the house, the cars, the security - actually we got the same response when we left Colorado, to live this way). But one friend in particular, whose husband was considering the idea of them moving away, to live a slow paced life, asked me how I knew I wasn't giving it all up for nothing. My friend was struggling with the idea of making such life changing decisions, without any guarantee, that it would be worth it. And what I told her was: You know it's worth it; when what you have to gain, is worth more, than what you have to lose. If saying yes to a choice means not questioning the "could of", "should of(s)" later, then you're in the right mindset. But you also should be up for adventure, challenge and change. Be willing to be flexible, patient and embrace a minimalist lifestyle.
This lifestyle is not for everyone! When I say minimalist, I mean MINIMALIST. When we're at the store, it's more about what we need and where it will go than what we want. Frivolous purchases are rare since space is limited, which is a good thing! In a house, we "spring cleaned" once a year. Since living in a motorhome, we organize and reorganize every 2-3 months. Out with the old, in with the new!
Another important idea to factor in, is how long you and your loved ones can be in confined quarters and still enjoy each others company. You better love the one (or ones) you're with because it can put the best of temperaments to the test. I've heard, when people are put together in confined quarters, they either become closer or their differences become crystal clear. Thoughts, moods and feelings are all heighten when in small spaces. So when things go down, you just have to deal. There is no where to go (except outside), so you might as well work it out! But, if you use it to your advantage... just the sheer proximity to each of your family members and their thoughts and feelings all day, everyday, gives you endless opportunities to forge everlasting bonds and experiences to share and grow from. So as long as you love being with your family and/or (at least) being outdoors, then this may be the life for you!
Step 2 - Purge
Once you've decided you are ready to take on a whole new way of life, you need to downsize like you've never downsized before. A big part of living this lifestyle is about
letting go. You have to learn how to let go of possessions, let go of fears (or face them) and let go of old belief systems. But first, you have to let go of your stuff! And no one is saying it's easy, it's just necessary, if you want to live this way. Does every "full-timer" sell everything? No, but the ones I've spoken to (who have kept their things in storage) felt they had wasted a lot of money over the years, storing stuff. By the time they returned to it; that's all it was, stuff. Everyone has items that will surpass time and space and those things should be entrusted to a friend or family member (or kept on-board, by prioritizing). But ultimately, you have to decide how much you're willing to spend to keep your things? Even small storage units can cost upwards of $700 a year and that's on the low end. It can easily be in the thousands. Which is why it's important to put a true value on your possessions. OK, so you obviously like them because you bought them, once. But do you like them enough to continuously pay to keep them? It's important to really decipher between what can be replaced and what is truly priceless.
Mindset and purging are important factors to consider, but not just to live
this lifestyle, really for any lifestyle. How you approach your life and what you believe-in are primary components to the outcome of your life. The more connected and excited you are about life the more fulfilling it is. And by being in-tune with your family, you're making the most of your experiences. By decluttering, you can become more functional and organized which makes life more efficient. For me, living in a motorhome has heightened my senses on life. Foggy images are becoming clearer
May these small tips bring your pictures into focus!
Happy Travels!!
D
